Pages

Tuesday, April 10, 2012

New iPhone to debut in October, Foxconn employee says

Apple's next iPhone -- rumored to be called the iPhone 5 -- is launching in October, the head of human resources at Foxconn's Taiyuan factory reportedly said.

Another day, another rumor surrounding Apple's next iPhone.

South Korea's Maeil Business Newspaper is reporting today that Apple plans to launch its next iPhone in October. The publication heard the news from the head of human resources at Foxconn's Taiyuan factory, according to Kotaku, which translated the story. The human resources head said that Foxconn "just got the order," adding that the "release will be around October."

It's not often that the head of human resources would have information on Apple's next iPhone, but according to the Korean paper, it spoke with the person because the Northern China factory has been looking to hire many people in advance of the launch.

But as with any other Apple-related rumor, this one should be taken with the proverbial grain of salt. Just last week, TV Tokyo recorded a conversation with a Foxconn recruiter, who told potential hires that it seemed likely that the iPhone will be going on sale in June.

Earlier rumors have also been mixed on the iPhone's eventual launch. Back in February, Japanese blog Macotakara said the iPhone will be launching this fall. Less than three weeks earlier, a Chinese paper said the device would launch in June. Either launch period seems plausible, since the company has historically offered up its new smartphone version in both months. That said, it won't make any indication when it'll launch the new iPhone -- or even admit that it's in the works -- until it holds a special event.

According to the latest rumors, Apple's next iPhone -- believed to be called the iPhone 5 -- will launch with 4G LTE service and possibly come with a 4.6-inch display. Apple's current iPhone boasts a 3.5-inch screen.

Apple did not immediately respond to CNET's request for comment on the latest report.

At the start of the 21st century, there's no tech outfit more influential than Apple. CNET News' Josh Lowensohn and other reporters will attempt to make sense of the rumors, hype, products, and people that will shape the future of the company. But Apple's not the only game in town, as the established cell phone companies and others strike back against the iPhone and iPad. E-mail Josh at josh.lowensohn@cnet.com.